Minnesota woman embezzles over $200k; serves sentence on weekends.

A 50-year-old Hastings woman, Cynthia Amelia Schmitz, will begin serving weekends in the Ramsey County Workhouse this Friday, Aug. 1, as part of the sentencing order of July 18 for her guilty plea to one felony count of theft by swindle.

Schmitz had previously entered the guilty plea for stealing more than $200,000 from the company she worked for in White Bear Lake for more than five years.

At the July 18 sentencing, Schmitz was sentenced to 21 months in prison, but that term was stayed. She was sentenced to serve 120 days in the Ramsey County Workhouse (weekends), remain law abiding, continue counseling, pay restitution to the company as determined by the court, and be on probation for 20 years.

The charge was filed against Schmitz in April in Ramsey County. Schmitz was the office manager for Crocus Dental Technologies from April 30, 2002, to Dec. 31, 2007, and she embezzled more than $200,000 from the company, according to court documents.

When she left the company at the end of last year, Schmitz told co-workers she was going to move to Hawaii and own a coffee bean farm.

The owner of the business, who believed that Schmitz had embezzled company funds, called White Bear Lake Police to the business on Jan. 22 of this year. As office manager, Schmitz’ responsibilities included printing payroll checks, sending out bills and handling payments from clients. All payments from clients were to be deposited into the company’s bank account. After Schmitz quit in December 2007, an independent audit confirmed that many payments by customers had not been deposited into the bank account, but rather into Schmitz’ accounts at another bank. The owner told police Schmitz did not have permission to deposit any the customers’ payments into an account other than the company’s regular account.

From the accountant’s report, the company was able to verify in 2005 Schmitz apparently stole more than $54,000; in 2006, she apparently stole more than $73,000; and in 2007, she apparently stole more than $129,000.

A search warrant for Schmitz’ savings and checking accounts was executed Jan. 28, and funds totaling more than $120,000 were received from them.

The company’s owner told police she had received a call from Schmitz’ husband, who told her his wife had confessed to him she had stolen the money. He said they would try to pay back the money.

The company’s auditor also told the company owner Schmitz had used the Crocus Dental Technology accounts to ship items to Hawaii (where Schmitz had moved).

On March 17, Schmitz and her attorney came to the White Bear Lake Police Department. When questioned, Cynthia Schmitz admitted to stealing the money by depositing the checks made payable to Crocus Dental Technology into her own personal checking accounts. She said she initially took the money to help pay medical bills, but then continued because she felt a need to help other people.

Hastings woman accused of embezzlement

A 50-year-old Hastings woman, Cynthia Amelia Schmitz, faces one felony count of theft by swindle after she allegedly stole more than $200,000 from the company she worked for in White Bear Lake.

According to the criminal complaint filed April 4 in Ramsey County District Court, while Schmitz was the office manager for Crocus Dental Technologies from April 30, 2002 to Dec. 31, 2007, she apparently embezzled more than $200,000 from the company.

When she left the company at the end of last year, Schmitz told co-workers she was going to move to Hawaii and own a coffee bean farm.

The owner of the business, who believed that Schmitz had embezzled company funds, called White Bear Lake Police to the business on Jan. 22. As office manager, Schmitz’ responsibilities included printing payroll checks, sending out bills and handling payments from clients.

All payments from clients were to be deposited into the company’s bank account. After Schmitz quit in December 2007, an independent audit confirmed that many payments by customers had not been deposited into the bank account, but rather into Schmitz’ accounts at another bank. The owner told police Schmitz did not have permission to deposit any of the customers’ payments into an account other than the company’s regular account.

From the accountant’s report, the company was able to verify Schmitz apparently stole more than $54,000 in 2005; in 2006, she apparently stole more than $73,000; and in 2007, she apparently stole more than $129,000. The auditor is continuing to look at the years 2002 through 2004.

A search warrant for Schmitz’ savings and checking accounts was executed Jan. 28, and funds totaling more than $120,000 were received from them.

The company’s owner told police she had received a call from Schmitz’ husband, who told her his wife had confessed to him she had stolen the money. He said they would try to pay back the money.

The company’s auditor also told the company owner Schmitz had used the Crocus Dental Technology accounts to ship items to Hawaii (where Schmitz had moved).

On March 17, Schmitz and her attorney came to the White Bear Lake Police Department. When questioned, Cynthia Schmitz admitted to stealing the money by depositing the checks made payable to Crocus Dental Technology into her own personal checking accounts. She said she initially took the money to help pay medical bills, but then continued because she felt a need to help other people.

Schmitz is scheduled to make her first court appearance in Ramsey County May 7.